Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Andy A]

I've had a smell of coolant inside the car for the past 2 years and now the smell is getting slowly stronger. No loss of coolant.
What could be causing the smell?

[Doctor Gollum]

Heater matrix weeping. Check the drivers footwell carpet, ideally lift it as the underlay holds about a litre before it reaches the surface

[Andy A]

Will do Al. Is there anything I can fairly safely add to the coolant system to stop the leak?

[Diamond Black Geezer]

In a word, no, I'd say. They're known for just gumming up exactly where you don't want it to gum-up from what I've read on here. 

[Lazydocker]

Will do Al. Is there anything I can fairly safely add to the coolant system to stop the leak?

A replacement heater matrix 

Assuming that is where the leak is

[robson]

If you have no loss of coolant how can it be heater matrix

[Doctor Gollum]

Two years drop by drop, any losses masked by regular coolant changes and other work... radiator/hbv/thermostat etc

[Andy A]

If I put some Leak Detection UV dye in the Cooling System will I be able to see any of the heater matrix without cutting into the consul or taking half the dash apart to check for a leak?

[Doctor Gollum]

You can kinda see it from the drivers foot well with the panel removed from above the pedals, andthe centre console pulled back... actually a five minute job on the facelift

[amba]

Could be the rubber seals on the pipes to the matrix from the bulk head weeping,although once you have gone that far into the dissection is almost just worth fitting a new matrix as about £35,but the O rings are an odd size and are almost VX only and stupid price for a bit of rubber.

Lift the carpet sooner than later and check if anything is even slightly damp as the smell will hang around for ages

[Nick W]

Could be the rubber seals on the pipes to the matrix from the bulk head weeping,although once you have gone that far into the dissection is almost just worth fitting a new matrix is about £35,but the O rings are an odd size and are almost VX only and stupid price for a bit of rubber.

I've got one to fit that was 16Euros.

[amba]

But what will it cost after Wednesday then 

[Nick W]

But what will it cost after Wednesday then 

It will still be 16Euros. Which will be about £324568squillion, or 12 potatoes

[Andy A]

You can kinda see it from the drivers foot well with the panel removed from above the pedals, andthe centre console pulled back... actually a five minute job on the facelift

Al, do you know how many and where the fixing screws are for taking out the centre console out and why would a leaking heater matrix lead to damp underlay on the left side only or is that the easiest side to get at?

[Doctor Gollum]

Two Philips screws under the gear lever surround and lift the trim out. Then two torx screws under the cup holder and another two near the hand brake and finally two towards the front of the gear lever. Then seats forward and undo the two torx bolts from the rear sides of the console. Lift the arm rest up and then seats back and lift/pull the console back.

Matrix is only visible/accessible from rhs. Likewise any coolant from it. Leaks will be obvious once console pulled clear.